Who Is Paul Keating? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on January 18, 1944, Paul Keating is a prominent Australian politician who served as the 24th Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996. Known for his eloquent speeches and reformative policies, Keating played a crucial role in shaping modern Australia. As of 2025, Paul Keating is 81 years old. Over the years, he has remained a significant figure in Australian politics, often engaging in debates about the country's direction.
| Occupation | Prime Ministers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 18, 1944 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Australia |
Popularity
Paul Keating's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Paul Keating's current height and weight are not publicly documented, he is known for his tall stature, which has been a notable feature throughout his career. Keating's sharp appearance and presence have always complemented his commanding speech style.
During the campaign, Keating focused a great amount of effort on attacking the Coalition's proposed goods and services tax (GST), arguing that it would prove "a dead weight" on the economy, and stating that "every time you put your hand in your pocket, Dr. Hewson's will be in there with you".
He was helped by Hewson struggling towards the end of the campaign to explain exactly which products would have the GST levied on them, and which would not.
Having begun the campaign far behind the Coalition in opinion polls, on 13 March Keating led Labor to an unexpected and record-breaking fifth consecutive election victory, picking up a two-seat swing. The speech Keating delivered at the victory celebration has been described as one of the great Labor speeches.
Opening with "This is a victory for the true believers; the men and women of Australia who, in difficult times, have kept the faith", the speech has been described as providing a source of inspiration for Labor Party faithful to the present day.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Paul Keating was previously married to Annita Keating in 1975, and they have two daughters together. After their divorce, he has kept details about his personal life relatively private. As of 2025, there is no public information confirming any romantic partners or new relationships, making it difficult to ascertain his current dating status.
He was the first of four children born to Minnie (née Chapman) and Matthew John Keating. His father worked as a boilermaker for the New South Wales Government Railways. All of Keating's grandparents were born in Australia. On his father's side, he was descended from Irish immigrants born in counties Galway, Roscommon, and Tipperary.
On his mother's side, he was of mixed English and Irish descent. His maternal grandfather, Fred Chapman, was the son of two convicts, John Chapman and Sarah Gallagher, both of whom had been transported for theft in the 1830s.
Net Worth and Salary
Paul Keating's net worth is estimated to be around $50 million as of 2025. This wealth comes from his long political career, successful engagements in public speaking, consultancy roles, and various investments. His influential position in the political arena has also led to a reputation as a sought-after commentator, further boosting his earnings.
Throughout the second and third terms of the Hawke government, Keating led a significant overhaul of the long-stagnant Australian taxation system.
In 1985, he became a passionate advocate within the Cabinet for the introduction of a broad-based consumption tax, similar in nature to the goods and services tax that was later introduced by the Howard government, as a means of addressing Australia's chronic balance of payments issue.
In the build-up to the 1984 election, Hawke promised a policy paper on taxation reform to be discussed with all stakeholders at a "National Taxation Summit".
Three options – A, B and C – were presented in the paper, with Keating and his Treasury colleagues fiercely advocating for C, which included a consumption tax of 15% on goods and services along with reductions in personal and company income tax, a fringe benefits tax and a capital gains tax.
Although Keating was able to win the support of a reluctant Cabinet, Hawke believed that the opposition from the public, the ACTU, and the business community would be too great. He therefore decided to abandon any plans for a consumption tax, although the remainder of the reforms were adopted in the tax reform package.
The loss of the consumption tax was seen a defeat for Keating; he later joked about it at a press conference, saying, "It's a bit like Ben Hur. We've crossed the line with one wheel off, but we have crossed the line."
Career, Business and Investments
Since leaving office, Keating has remained active in political discourse and public life. He has worked as a consultant for various companies and has been involved in multiple initiatives addressing economic and social issues in Australia. His reputation for being a fierce advocate for the Australian economy has opened several doors for him in the business world. Keating is particularly known for his investments in real estate and advisory roles in significant corporate dealings.
After Labor's landslide victory at the 1983 election, Keating was appointed treasurer by prime minister Bob Hawke. The pair developed a powerful political partnership, overseeing significant reforms intended to liberalise and strengthen the Australian economy.
These included the Prices and Incomes Accord, the float of the Australian dollar, the elimination of tariffs, the deregulation of the financial sector, achieving the first federal budget surplus in Australian history, and reform of the taxation system, including the introduction of capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax, and dividend imputation.
He also became recognised for his sardonic rhetoric, as a controversial but deeply skilled orator. Keating became deputy prime minister in 1990, but in June 1991 he resigned from the government to unsuccessfully challenge Hawke for the leadership, believing he had reneged on the Kirribilli Agreement.
He mounted a second successful challenge six months later, and became prime minister.
Social Network
Paul Keating is not highly active on social media platforms, opting instead for a more traditional approach to public engagement. However, he maintains a presence through interviews, articles, and public speaking, where he shares his views on contemporary political and economic issues.
Whilst the remainder of the package represented the biggest overhaul of the Australian taxation system for decades, Keating continued to agitate for further changes to address the balance of payments problems faced by Australia.
On 14 May 1986, frustrated at the slow pace of dealing with the issue, he caused considerable public comment and a degree of controversy when he declared on a radio programme that if Australia did not address the problem, it risked degenerating to the status of a "banana republic".
Although the remark was quickly disowned by Hawke in public, the Government increased efforts to deal with the growing balance of payments crisis.
With no consumption tax to generate a significant increase in incomings, Keating and his ministerial colleagues led a process to significantly reduce Government outlays instead, resulting in some criticism from the grassroots of the Labor Party, who opposed cuts to spending.
Despite the criticism, the Government was able to produce a national budget surplus for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990, with the surplus of 1988 proving to be the largest budget surplus in Australian history.
Education
Keating's educational background includes attendance at St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, followed by further studies in law and history. His formal education, combined with life experiences in the political arena, has shaped his perspectives and policies, making him one of Australia's memorable Prime Ministers.
In 2013, Keating took part in a series of four-hour-long interviews with Kerry O'Brien which were broadcast on the ABC in November of that year.
The series covered Keating's early life, his entry into Parliament, his years as treasurer and prime minister, and canvassing his academic, musical and artistic interests, economic and cultural vision for Australia, and commitment to Australia's integration into Asia.
O'Brien used these conversations as the basis for a 2014 book Keating: The Interviews. Keating repeatedly declared he would not write a memoir, so his cooperation with O'Brien was perceived as the closest he would come to producing an autobiography.
